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A bronze John Breaux greets Louisville

City officials dedicate statue one year after beloved resident's death

By Noah Wanebo, For the Camera

Posted:
01/30/2010 06:26:14 PM MST

Updated:
01/03/2018 10:59:17 AM MST

Straddling his bike and beaming a smile, the late John Breaux is once again waving at residents in downtown Louisville.

A life-size bronze statue of Breaux was unveiled Saturday morning by the John Breaux Memorial Committee and city officials to commemorate the one-year anniversary since the beloved Louisville resident died after being struck by a car.

"I just want to say that yes, his hands were that big, his feet were a size 13, and his heart was big beyond measure," sculptor Dawn Record said to the more than 100 friends, family, and community members in attendance.

Louisville Mayor Chuck Sisk led the gathering in a moment of silence before beginning the ceremony, which took place in a small park at the east end of Main Street. Members of Breaux's family were in attendance, along with city officials and members of the memorial committee set up after Breaux's death.

"John was such a simple, caring person," Jay Keany, chair of the memorial committee, told the audience. "He just took care of everyone, and I hope that this statue will remind all of us that we can all make a difference in this community."

Breaux, 57, was remembered by those gathered for his random acts of kindness and the friendly waves he gave while riding his bike to pick up trash around east Boulder County.

He was killed when 63-year-old Mary Jo Thomas' car swerved into him on the side of U.S. 287 just north of South Boulder Road in Lafayette.

Elaine Rangel, 67, said she became good friends with Breaux after seeing him frequently wave to her as he rode past her house.

"He used to leave little stuffed toys on my car, and candy and stuff, and I come to find out he did that for everybody," she said. "He was everybody's John."

The memorial ended with a slideshow of Breaux in the library across the street, but many gathered around to share personal memories of their friend.

"I've known John for a long time," said Mayor Sisk, recalling an instance when they each had pictures of themselves hanging on the "Faces of Louisville" wall at the Empire Lounge & Restaurant. "He said, 'See Mr. Mayor, I'm right up there with you,' and I said, 'No John, you're way ahead of me.'"

Breaux moved to Louisville in 2000 to live with his brother, David Bright, after their father died. At the time, he was taking medication for paranoid-schizophrenia, according to Bright, but his acts of kindness fully blossomed when he stopped.

"He wasn't sleeping all day, and he had energy, and that's pretty much where it started," said Bright. "Each year it got bigger and bigger."

Following Breaux's death last year, community members raised close to $35,000 for the memorial fund by collecting donations in water jugs at businesses around Louisville, according to city spokeswoman Meredyth Muth. More than half of the money went to the memorial, while some went to Breaux's funeral and burial costs.

Record, the memorial's sculptor, donated her time to construct the statue.

"I crossed paths with (Breaux) regularly, and went out of my way to talk to him," Record said. "I used to give him rides when it was cold out because I worried."

She molded parts of the sculpture on personal belongings found with Breaux when he was struck, including his watch, necklace chain and his bike.

"The statue looks just like him," said Bright, looking at the memorial. "The sparkly eyes, a big old hand -- the first thing I did was put my hand up there to measure it, and it's just spot on."

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